Manchester City continued to confound the form book with a stunning triumph at Leeds, who had won their first two matches.

Goals late in the first half from new signing Steve Howey and Gerard Wiekens' first for ten months gave City a lead they just about held on to.

Lee Bowyer twisted in mid-air to direct Michael Bridges' fine cross into the corner with over half an hour left, but City, thrashed 4-0 at Charlton in their last away game, held on with great tenacity and deserved their success.

Paolo was world class, and that's without getting carried away by any means

Man City manager Joe Royle

Few City fans would have expected George Weah to have heard much about the club, never mind be left on the bench in the first weeks of their Premiership campaign.

Towering

But manager Joe Royle gave Paolo Wanchope the lone striker's role, and the Costa Rican responded with a towering performance in every sense.

City had chosen to pack the midfield with five, as Jeff Whitley came in for Weah, with Paul Ritchie making his debut in the back four as captain Richard Edghill was left out.

Lee Bowyer has a good view of his headed reply for Leeds

Wanchope's battling and ability to retain the ball, together with willingness to support from the midfield, especially by Mark Kennedy, gave City enough attacking edge to trouble Leeds and enough defensive ability to stifle a front three of Bridges, Alan Smith and Olympic-bound Mark Viduka.

City killed the game so well early on that the first half-hour was virtually incident-free until Wanchope woke everyone up by crashing a header from Kennedy's corner against the bar on 34 minutes, and Howey followed up to bundle the ball in from six yards.

Instant

Leeds' reply was almost instant as Bridges cracked a dipping half-volley from 25 yards that caught Nicky Weaver in no-man's land but crashed on to the underside of the bar and away to safety.

The home sense of injustice was reinforced on 40 minutes as Wanchope again caused trouble from a corner and Radebe's weak clearance was thrashed into the far corner of the net by Dutchman Wiekens.

We looked like a team with too many important players out

Leeds manager David O'Leary

Leeds came surging at City after the break and Bowyer's fine goal appeared to be the signal for United to power back into the game, but the visitors once again broke up play effectively, gave Leeds' forward trio so little time on the ball and always had the mighty outlet of Wanchope to give them some relief.

The last 15 minutes saw Leeds launching a succession of crosses into the box, but the night was summed up by the sight of Wanchope battling to win a tackle on his own dead ball line and hoofing a clearance upfield.